Menu
Open Search

S.C. Hazardous Waste Management Regulations Update

March 2026

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes in the Federal Register periodic updates to the Federal Hazardous Waste regulations (40 CFR 260 - 273). If the updated regulations are considered by the EPA to be more stringent than existing regulations, SCDES is required to adopt them. If the EPA determines the updated regulations are less stringent than existing regulations, SCDES is not required to adopt them, but generally does to remain consistent with federal regulations. 

SCDES has begun efforts to adopt several updates to the S.C. Hazardous Waste Management Regulations (SCHWMRs), R.61-79. Below is a summary of upcoming revisions to the Hazardous Waste Management Regulations.

  • Checklist 244 – Conforming Changes to Canada-Specific Hazardous Waste Import-Export Recovery and Disposal Operation Codes

    This checklist includes mandatory updates that must be adopted by all authorized states. It was effectively nationally on October 31, 2021. The rule makes conforming changes to the hazardous waste regulations to remain consistent with import/export requirements for both the U.S. and Canada. Import and export of hazardous waste is a function of RCRA that is reserved to the EPA. 

  • Checklist 245 – Test Method for Standards to Control Organic Emissions

    This checklist incorporates technical and editorial corrections to EPA’s Method 23 (Determination of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-Dioxins, Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans, and Polycyclic Hydrocarbons from Stationary Sources). 

  • Checklist 246 – Technical Corrections for the Hazardous Waste Generator Improvements Rule, the Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals Rule, and the Definition of Solid Waste Rule

    This checklist makes various regulatory corrections to the hazardous waste regulations, such as updating addresses, correcting typographical errors, and updating outdated citations, and other minor clarifications.

  • Checklist 247 – Integrating e-Manifest with Hazardous Waste Exports and Other Manifest-Related Reports; Final Rule

    This checklist includes mandatory updates that must be adopted by all authorized states. It became effective nationally on July 26, 2024. In this checklist, EPA finalized manifest regulations for import and export of hazardous wastes.

  • Checklist 248 – Management of Certain Hydrofluorocarbons and Substitutes

    This checklist includes mandatory updates that must be adopted by authorized states. It became effective nationally on December 10, 2024. In this checklist, EPA established alternative standards for certain ignitable spent refrigerants being recycled for reuse. 

  • Checklist 249 – Second Technical Corrections to Hazardous Waste Generator Improvements, the Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals, and the Definition of Solid Waste Rules

    This checklist finalizes five amendments to the Hazardous Waste Generator Improvements Rule, the Hazardous Waste Pharmaceutical Rule, and the Definition of Solid Waste Rule. It makes technical corrections and clarifies specific regulations. 

 

For More Information

EPA maintains a website which includes information on these and other rules that SCDES uses during the adoption process. The EPA website includes checklists for use by States when adopting rules, copies of Federal Register notices, etc.

For additional information on adoption of hazardous waste regulations in South Carolina, please send an email to Joe Bowers at joe.bowers@des.sc.gov or Kent Krieg at kent.krieg@des.sc.gov.